Traffic warning signal for use on vehicles

ABSTRACT

A traffic warning signal for use on vehicles, particularly highway service trucks, comprises a bracket support attachable to the vehicle, a bracket, a pivotal mounting means mounting the inner end of the bracket on the bracket support for free swinging movement of the bracket between extended and retracted positions. Detent means releasably lock the bracket in the retracted position. A triangular signal support is attached vertically to the outer end of the bracket for mounting a brightly colored, traffic signal.

United States Patent [191 Hiatt et al.

[ TRAFFIC WARNING SIGNAL FOR USE ON VEHICLES [76] Inventors: Frank S.Hiatt; Milton Freewater,

PO. Box 436, both of Portland, Oreg. 97862 [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1972[21] Appl. No.: 310,603

[52] U.S. Cl. 116/28 R, 116/63 P, 280/150,

293/21 [51] Int. Cl. B601 [58] Field of Search 116/28, 63, 63 P, 114;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,864,637 6/1932 Byrne280/150 R 2,060,771 ll/1936 Kempf 116/28 R r Jan. 29, 1974 2,116,6045/1938 Karl 293/24 2,646,638 7/1953 Peterson 40/125 2,942,571 6/1960White 3,633,161 1/1972 Price.....

3,675,785 7/1972 Martin 280/150 R Primary Examiner-l5ouis J. CapoziAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Eugene D. Farley 5 7] ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 4Drawing Figures ili.

TRAFFIC WARNING SIGNAL FOR USE ON VEHICLES As is well known, it isfrequently necessary for the truck and service vehicles used in highwayand utility construction and maintenance, to operate and park along themargins of busy highways and streets. This exposes the vehicle and crewto serious hazard of accidents.

It is conventional practice to surround the vehicle with safety signalsof various types, and in particular with safety signal cones of brightlycolored fluorescent material. In some instances the cones are mounteddirectly on the vehicle.

The application of the signal cones in this hazardous environment issubject to serious limitations.

In some instances it is necessary to place the signal cones on theground, where they are not clearly visible. If mounted on the vehicle inan extended position, the mounting mechanism is subject to breakage inthe event that the signals are struck by passing traffic. The mountingmechanisms are not easily shifted between advanced operative positionsand retracted storage positions, nor can they be locked in their storagepositions. It is difficult to detachably mount them on the vehicle.

It accordingly is the general purpose of the present invention toprovide a vehicle-mounted traffic warning signal which is clearlyvisible from all directions; which is easily mounted on the vehicle;which is readily shiftable between advanced and retracted positions;which is releasably but securely locked in place when in the retractedinoperative position; which is readily shiftable to vary the location ofthe signal to meet the needs of various situations; which need not beremoved from the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling from place toplace; and which is readily adapted for use with vehicles of variouscategories and safety signal cones of the conventional, readilyavailable type.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention areaccomplished by the provision of a traffic warning signal which, broadlyconsidered, comprises a bracket support adapted to be attached to astructural member of the vehicle. The inner end of a bracket ispivotally mounted on the bracket support so that it swings freelybetween advanced and retracted positions.

A triangular signal support is attached in a vertical position on theouter end of the bracket. It is dimensioned and contoured frictionallyto engage a brightly colored traffic signal.

Means are provided for adjusting the length of the bracket, and also forreleasably locking it in its retracted position. Accordingly, a vehicleprovided with one or more of the signals may be driven to the selectedlocation, parked. the bracket arm extended, and the traffic signalslipped over the support. This renders the vehicle highly visible to allpassers-by. The bracket with signal mounted thereon remains in itsextended position until shifted manually to its retracted position uponmoving the vehicle to another location. In the event the signal orbracket is struck by a passing vehicle, it swings freely to itsretracted position where it locks automatically, preventing damage toeither the signal or the vehicle.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particularreference to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a highway or utility servicingvehicle illustrating the manner of locating the hereindescribed trafficwarning signal thereon.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the vehicle with the warning signal inits operative positions.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the signal, parts being brokenaway to show interior construction, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG.3.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 having a plurality of thehereindescribed traffic warning signals, indicated generally at 12,mounted thereon. In the illustrated application of the invention, thereare six of the signals, three on each side, located on the forward andrearward bumpers as well as centrally. When located in this manner,above bumper height and completely surrounding the vehicle, the vehicleis rendered highly visible from all directions even to a rapidlyapproaching automobile.

It is a feature of the invention that the support member by means ofwhich each signal is attached to the vehicle may be attached permanentlyand inconspicuously in a location where it does not interfere with thenormal use of the vehicle. The side segments of the front and rearbumpers 14 provide ideal'locations.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, a bracket support comprising a sleeve 16having an attaching web 18 is welded to bumper 14 with the sleeve in avertical position.

Sleeve 16 is designed to support a bracket indicated generally at 20 andpreferably formed in three segments.

The central segment comprises two telescoping sections 22, 24. These maybe releasably engaged in any selected position of extension by means ofa thumb screw 26.

In the normal application of the signal, the central segment of thebracket extends outwardly and horizontally. At its outer end it mounts avertical terminal segment 28. This may comprise a length of rod to whichis welded a triangular signal support 30.

The signal support is dimensioned and contoured to receive a flatplastic envelope or sleeve 32 in a snug, friction fit. This per se mayconstitute the signal. However, if desired, a conventional highwaysafety cone 34 of brightly colored fluorescent plastic may be nestedover the plastic sleeve. Optionally, a flashing signal light 36 may beattached to the top of the triangular support and connected through asuitable circuit to the battery of the vehicle.

Means are provided at the inner end of the bracket 20 for mounting itfor free swinging movement on support sleeve 16.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the means employed for this purposecomprises a vertical rod 38 having a head 40 at its upper end and atransverse perforation 42 at its lower end.

Rod 38 penetrates an appropriately placed transverse opening throughsection 24 of the bracket. It thereupon passes completely through sleeve16 and out the lower end of the latter. It mounts a washer 44 whichbears against the lower end of the sleeve. It also mounts a compressionspring 46 between washer 44 and a companion washer 48. A suitablefastener such as pin 50 extends through opening 42 in the lower end ofrod 38 and holds the assembly releasably together.

Detent means releasably lock the bracket in its retracted positionwherein it lies parallel to the sides of the vehicle.

The means employed for this purpose, FIG. 4, comprise two pairs ofrecesses 52 which lie opposite each other in the top surface of sleeve16. The recesses are aligned in planes parallel and perpendicular,respectively, to the side of the vehicle. They have sloping, shallow,camming surfaces having a radius cooperative with the arc of bracketsection 24 which they receive.

In the operation of the signal, the vehicle is driven to the desiredlocation with brackets retracted. The brackets then are extended and oneor the other of signals 32, 34 slipped over them. Signal lights 36 areilluminated, if desired.

The signals are maintained in their elevated, extended position whereinthey render the vehicle clearly visible. In the event they are struck bya passing vehicle, or when it is desired to inactivate them, the armsswing or are swung freely through an arc of 90 until bracket section 24seats in recesses 52. This releasably locks the brackets in theirinoperative position pending another use. Signals 32, 34 are removedfrom their supports and stored on the vehicle, which then may be movedto its next location.

Having thus described my invention in preferred embodiments, I claim:

1. For use on vehicles, a traffic warning signal comprising:

a. a bracket support comprising a vertical sleeve adapted to be attachedto a structural member of gated member having an inner end portionprovided with a transverse opening therethrough and an elongated rodextending through the transverse opening and freely through the verticalsleeve, with the inner end portion of the elongated member overlying thesleeve, said overlying portion having an arcuate cross-section,

c. the upper end of the sleeve having perpendicularly disposed pairs ofarcuate recesses dimensioned to receive the arcuate portion of the innerend of the elongated member retractably in one pair thereof when theelongated member is in operative position extended from the vehicle andin the other pair thereof when the elongated member is in retractedposition adjacent the vehicle,

d. spring biasing means interengaging the sleeve and rod for biasing theinner end of the elongated member resiliently toward the recesses,whereby a predetermined force applied horizontally to the elongatedmember effects retraction of the inner end thereof from a pair of therecesses and consequent swinging of the elongated member in a horizontalplane, and

e. a traffic signal mounted on the outer end of the elongated member.

2. The traffic warning signal of claim 1 including a triangular signalsupport attached in a vertical position on the outer end of theelongated member, and wherein the traffic signal comprises a flat,plastic sleeve overlying and removably engaging the triangular signalsupport.

3. The traffic warning signal of claim 2 including a hollow, conicaltraffic signal dimensioned to overlie and frictionally engage thesleeve.

1. For use on vehicles, a traffic warning signal comprising: a. abracket support comprising a vertical sleeve adapted to be attached to astructural member of a vehicle, b. a bracket comprising a horizontallydisposed elongated member having an inner end portion provided with atransverse opening therethrough and an elongated rod extending throughthe transverse opening and freely through the vertical sleeve, with theinner end portion of the elongated member overlying the sleeve, saidoverlying portion having an arcuate cross-section, c. the upper end ofthe sleeve having perpendicularly disposed pairs of arcuate recessesdimensioned to receive the arcuate portion of the inner end of theelongated member retractably in one pair thereof when the elongatedmember is in operative position extended from the vehicle and in theother pair thereof when the elongated member is in retracted positionadjacent the vehicle, d. spring biasing means interengaging the sleeveand rod for biasing the inner end of the elongated member resilientlytoward the recesses, whereby a predetermined force applied horizontallyto the elongated member effects retraction of the inner end thereof froma pair of the recesses and consequent swinging of the elongated memberin a horizontal plane, and e. a traffic signal mounted on the outer endof the elongated member.
 2. The traffic warning signal of claim 1including a triangular signal support attached in a vertical position onthe outer end of the elongated member, and wherein the traffic signalcomprises a flat, plastic sleeve overlying and removably engaging thetriangular signal support.
 3. The traffic warning signal of claim 2including a hollow, conical traffic signal dimensioned to overlie andfrictionally engage the sleeve.